Lately I've found myself wanting one of the stainless steel utility knives that many of us may have had at some time if we were in the US military. Once upon a time I was issued one for a field exercise lasting a week...the Navy took it back when I turned their sateens back too (long story).

I'm looking on Ebay for one made slightly before or during my active duty years. $40-$50 there and hopefully not broken. They are still being made though by one company in Rhode Island. Colonial Knife Company. I have a Chinese copy marketed under the Marble name, but want the real deal this time.

Any stories of them from the forum?

I'm never without one of my Victorinox Alox knives.
They're a Swiss Army knife, but with aluminium handles. I've been carrying them for years & they hold up.

They have different models, with different tool/blade combos, and without the absolutely worthless, (to me at least), corkscrew.

Rat2306

Is the knife you are referring to called the

M-2205 Military Issue Pocket Knife



Nat'l Stock #5110-00-162-2205
Made in USA. Lifetime Warranty.
includes Low Profile Belt Sheath.
Also available with Deluxe Snapshackle Lanyard.

Genuine U.S. Military issue for over 50 years, officially described as "Knife, Pocket, General Purpose." Features a razor-sharp, specially hardened #440A stainless steel blade, plus a number of extra tools for everyday use on or off the ship -



Website:

https://shipcanvas.com/products/2205-pocket-knife

I never heard of the company so I did research

Welcome to SHIPCANVAS... Founded by sailors Ed Morris and Steve Barth, we produce traditional rigging for ships and yachts, plus hand-crafted ditty bags and seabags for the crew. Nothing here is copied or merely 'styled to appear' nautical - we only build the real thing.

^^^Exactly the item I'm looking for. It appears to be one from Colonial Knife. The price is also the same. Camillus, Colonial, and a couple of others punched out a million or more of these before and during Vietnam to almost the present day. Victorinox now makes their Soldier knife for Uncle Sam also, but something about the old school one just makes me want to open up a C ration.

ETA: I bought one of the Victorinox Soldier knives with the US markings this week. Pretty stout piece of kit to slice open MREs, but it's pretty close to my Hunter in size. Am keeping an eye out for a good Camillus or Queen Cutlery utility knife. In the interim, the Chinese made copy is going to be EDC for a while.

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quote:

Originally posted by Ironbutt:
I'm never without one of my Victorinox Alox knives.
They're a Swiss Army knife, but with aluminium handles. I've been carrying them for years & they hold up.

They have different models, with different tool/blade combos, and without the absolutely worthless, (to me at least), corkscrew.

I have a Victorinox Hunter with the corkscrew, love it on mine. Never know when you may be camping and have to open a bottle of Chardonnay.

ETA: I found an almost pristine Queen Cutlery knife on Ebay. $51 with tax and shipping after I won the auction. It will be a keepsake, as it was made the year that I began drilling with USMC Reserve units, vice Navy, for the next 12 years.

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